Wheeled golf bag carrier



Nov. 20, 1951 A. M. SCHWARTZ WHEELED GOLF BAG CARRIER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May 28, 1947 ANTHONY -M. SCHWARTZ,

Nov. 20, 1951 A. M. SCHWARTZ 2,575,930

WHEELED GOLF BAG CARRIER Filed May 28, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 L ANTHONY M. SCHWARTZ,

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Patented Nov. 20, 1951 UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

,. The present invention relates to wheeled carriers, and in a more particular aspect to a twowheeled carrier particularly adapted to be used for carrying a golf bag and clubs over a golf course. The invention further relates to such a carrier associated with a golf bag.

, Wheeled golf bag carriers have come into common use, and in general such carriers are so constructed that they are not readily portable to and from the golf course, or cannot be readily stored in club rooms or lockers, or cannot be conveniently transported in automobiles or buses. Collapsible golf bag carriers have been constructed, but even these are unwieldy and occupy too much space for convenient transportation and storage. Furthermore, collapsible carriers of the prior art are relatively complex in structure with numerous parts which may become bent or out of line and may thus render collapse and assembly difficult. Such carriers are also relatively more costly to produce.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf bag carrier which is simple in structure and light in weight. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a golf bag carrier so constructed that it may readily be completely disassembled for transportation or storage, and may readily be assembled for use. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide such a golf bag carrier which may be disassembled and stored and/or transported in the golf bag itself along with the golf clubs. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a golf bag so constructed that the golf bag carrier may be assembled integrally therewith.

In accordance with the present invention, therefore, the carrier is assembled from a plurality of parts which are readily joined together ina rigid manner for use as a carrier, or disassembled for transportation in the golf bag or in any other way. In general the carrier comprises an elongated central supporting member or backbone which may be in the form of a channel. The backbone has associated therewith means for clamping or supporting a golf bag longitudinally thereof. Two separate wheel supports oraxles and a. handle are provided, and these three parts are separately attached to the backbone, preferably by a single clamping or attaching means. A wheel may remain attached to each wheel support. The wheel supports are so shaped that when attached to the backbone, it will preferably be supported at such an angle to the ground'that when a golf bag with clubs is supported thereby the center of gravity will be substantially at a point perpendicular ,to the ground between the backbone member and the wheels so that the assembly will be properly balanced. In order to permit ready assembly of the wheel support ends on the backbone member it is preferably provided with means for enclosing said ends in a manner which will limit their movement. Such means may be considered as a receptacle for the ends and may include means for receiving the end of the handle also. At the same time, the wheel supports and handle are so shaped that they may be inserted, within, and carried by the golf bag along with the back-.- bone member. lhe wheels may be separablebut are preferably left attached to the supports.

The backbone member may, if desired, be integrally incorporated with or may be attached to a golf bag, and the Wheel supports and handle may then be readily carried within the bag and separably attached to the backbone for use.

The accompanying drawings and following de-, scription illustrate practical and preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevational view of the improved article carrier showing a golf bag supported thereon in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the C31! rier with a golf bag indicated in dotted lines and having a partial cross section of a bag clampand bracing means.

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation of the novel assembly means of the present invention. a

Figure 4 is a transverse cross section along lines 4-4 of Figure 3, partially in elevation.

Figure 5 is an exploded elevational view of the elements of Figure 3, showing these elements in disassembled form.

Figure 6 is a detail in elevation of an alternative form of the ends of the wheel supporting members for assembly on the central supporting member. 7

Figure 6a. is a transverse cross section on lines cZ-a of Fig. 6.

Figure 7 is a View in elevation of a golf bag having the central supporting member built in.

Figure 8 is a transverse cross sectional view along lines 8-8 of Fig. 7.

In the drawings, like reference characters are used for like parts in each figure.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the carrier comprises a central supporting member or backbone l, which has attached thereto at its lower end a foot or support 2 for holding or supporting the bottom or lower end of a golf bag. This foot may be merely an extension of the backbone formed by bending, or may be a springlike member welded or bolted on. Preferably, the backbone member is in the form of a channel as shown in cross section in Figure 4;

with the flanges or sides thereof extending away from the bag for reasons to be explained below. Attached by bolts, or welding or otherwise, to the back of the backbone member, at an intermediate" point thereof, is a plate 13, which is tapped to receive the threaded end 4a of the single assembly bolt 4. However, in some cases the channel member itself may be threaded where it is made of steel or other suitable .material, but generally a plate or other fairly heavy tapped member is preferable to permit the strain of strong tightening, by bolts. The channel member is, of course, drilled to permit passage of the threaded end ofthe bolt. Positioned on the inside of the channel member just above 3 is a cross-piece 5 having a bent-over flange 6, thus-forminga= pocket with the Walls of the channel.- This cross piece- 'may be boltedor weldedto the channel member or may be of any desired shape soas to form the slight pocket referred to, which serves as a receptable' for the upper-ends of the wheel supports. A pair of left and right wheel supports l and-8 are provided which are so bent as to form axle for supporting Y the wheels atone end,-and' bent at the other end so: as-to be parallel to the channel when fitted into position and at the same time support the channel at an angle to the ground w-itlrthe wheel supports diverging downward and rearward. Preferably the angle formed with the supports and thebackbone is an acute angle which such tha-t the backbone and its supported bag will be in an uprightbut angular position with respect to the ground and with the-wheels will form a support which will maintainthe bag in -an upright position whenstanding'. A-t'thesame time the angle of the wheel supports and their point-of assembly on the backbone member are such that the'center'of gravity is substantia'llyover the wheels when the carrier istr undlecl or pushed along. Theendof each 'wheel support which-isto be attached to the channeled backbone member may be shaped or formed so as tofit" into the channel-and be inserted under the projecting flange 5-. Preferably however, the end of each support has attached thereto a heavy plate such as shown'at 9a or 96 ofa suitable shape such as a'rectangul'ar prism of such a thickness and strength 4 inserting and tightening the assembly bolt 4 which passes through hole 2| drilled in the handle. The handle is preferably recessed as at 12 to receive the shoulder I3 of bolt 4 for a tight fit, and the width of the handle is pro-.

portioned so as to fit snugly between the ends of the wheel support. The handle slopes rearwardly and upwardly at a point corresponding to the cut-away portion shown at 6a.

In a preferred form of the invention, means are provided for'interlocking the left and right plates 90. and 9b, first, for easy assembly of the two supports so they may be slid in one operation into the channel and under the flange 6, and second, to provide a tight fit and prevent slidingor slipping of the assembly after tightening of the assembly bolt. The interlocking means may be affixed to or integral with the plates as to provide satisfactory bracing against the 7 and right wheel supports as viewed from the'rear of the carrier. Each plate 911 and 9b is provided with a rounded semicircular cut-away portion I 1 to-form an opening through which bolt d'may' pass through hole 56 in the backbone into the tapped opening in plate 3. The wheel supports are assembled. with the backbone member by sliding the ends with plates attached'between the'sides 0f the channel and under the flange 6. Handle i0 is then placed on top of theplates between the wheel support ends I l and the three members are then clamped to the backbone by or else with the wheel support ends where separate plates are not provided. As shown in Figure 5, the interlocking means is :a pairaof; spaced pins M which fit into corresponding. sockets -15;

Figure 6 and Figure 6a describe a modified form of the ends of the wheel supports in which they are interlocked by means of a tongue and groove. Wheel support 1 has its end enlarged and shaped asshown at 29a. with a tongue- 26, while right Wheel support 8 has its end enlarged as shown at 29?; with groove 2?. When the supports are to be assembled onthe backbone member the tongue is inserted into the groove and the thus joined members are inserted into thereceptacle on the-backbone member as described in-connection with Figure 5 The en larged ends may be formed integral with the wheel supports by shaping the ends of the rods of which the supports aremade, or else the ends may be welded or bolted or-otherw'ise attached. Tubular wheel-supports-may beutilized with the ends shaped as desiredby plugging and shaping them, or the desiredinterlocking means may be attached inany other-desired ma'nner. While the interlocking means is generally preferred, the ends may be shaped ton-t into the" receptacle omitting-such means as the pins and sockets or tongue and groove, the ends being held in V placeby the receptacle andclamping means.

- At the other end of each wheel support the support is bent horizontally so as to form an" ax'leportion l8 to whi'ch a wheel 1'9 isiattached'. The wheel is preferably of a size which will fit intothe bag or may be'readily carried projecting over the edge thereof; A diameter of 4"to'8 or more inches is suitable. The wheel should have a tread sufficiently wide to bear the weight'o'f bag and clubs on soft terrain without sinking and should desirably be rubber tired'with a solid or semi pneumatic tire. A tread width of A? to'Z or more-is satisfactory; For ease in wheel? ing; bearingsf'of the-roller; sleeve, or plain type may be-provided; V r V i The handle I0 is preferably a rod which is shaped soas to provide'proper'balance and com fort in wheeling the carrier and may have 'a grip 28- attached to' one end: thereof. "At the.

over the bolt 23 before the wing-nut is tightened. Means 25 for engaging and clamping the top of the bag may, if desired be attached to bolt 23 also so the bag and the brace may be clamped simultaneously. Separate means for clamping the top of the bag may be provided if desired.

In Figure 7 is illustrated a golf bag with the backbone member built-in, and which may at the same time serve as a reinforcing member for the bag. This will require only the two wheel members and handle to be carried in the bag and will facilitate assembly. In the figure, backbone member I is shown exposed at an intermediate point of the bag sufficiently to render the assembly mechanism accessible with flange 6, and opening l6 for receiving the assembly bolt. A cross section along lines 8--8 is illustrated in Fig. 8. The backbone member may be fitted into a longitudinal pocket in the bag which may be formed by sewing or otherwise and may be removable if desired. In this modification no separate clamping means are required to hold or support the bag.

In the design of the carrier, the angles which the wheel supports form with the backbone and with each other are of importance, but considerable variation is permissible as long as the angle and spread of the supports and channel member are such as to provide proper balance and provide a stable support for the carrier. Preferably the wheel spread and angle of the supports with the channel member is such that the channel member will incline an angle of about 10 to 20 degrees from the vertical when the assembled carrier is in a standing position. The handle is designed with such length and angular relationship to the backbone that it reaches a height which is comfortable for the average person and so that when the carrier is tilted downward for trundling it may be pushed or pulled at about waist height. The length of the handle is preferably such that a projection from the end of the handle to the ground will be well behind the wheels. Preferably also the vertical projection of the center of gravity of the loaded bag with the carrier in standing position would touch the ground between the base of the channel and the wheels, usually closer to the wheels.

As the foregoing disclosure has indicated, a carrier has been provided which may be readily assembled from three main parts with a single assembly means. The backbone member need not necessarily be channeled for its full length but may have a channel or side flanges formed only at the point of assembly. It may also consist of a tubular member having a rectangular receptacle or channel formed at an intermediate point for receiving the wheel supports and han dle. In place of the flange 5, the channel may be provided merely with a pair of cross pieces athwart the channel and spaced apart the length of plates 9a and 9b or other similar means thus forming a rectangular box-like receptacle for said members.

In a further modification, in place or the tapped opening in plate 3, there may be a permanent stud projecting through the channel a distance great enough to pass through the plates 9a. and 9b and handle and be engaged by a wing-nut or the like. Other suitable means for clamping the assembled members may also be provided.

The respective parts of the carrier are made of material having the requisite strength as well as maximum lightness. The channel or back.- bone member may be of aluminum alloy. The wheel supports may be of steel, either solid or tubular, while the wheels may be of light steel with flat or semi-pneumatic rubber tires. The handles may be of aluminum alloy or steel.

The foregoing description relates to specific details of construction for purposes of description and explanation, but various modificationsin the particular form of the various parts will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is;

1. A wheeled article carrier having a central elongated backbone member, a pair of elongated wheel supports each of said supports having a wheel 'rotatably secured to one end thereof and having the other end free, a handle for pushing said carrier, means for removably attaching the free ends of said wheel supports and the lower end of said handle to said backbone member, said means comprising means for interlocking the free ends of the wheel supports comprising a plurality of pins extending from the side adjacent the free end of one end of said wheel supports and a plurality of corresponding sockets for receiving said pins in the corresponding side adjacent the free end of the other of said wheel supports, means for holding said interlocked ends against upward and horizontal movement, and clamping means for tightly holding the lower end of said handle and said interlocked wheel support ends against said backbone member.

2. A golf bag carrier having an elongated backbone member, means for supporting a golf bag longitudinally thereof, a channel member formed at an intermediate portion of said backbone member having rearwardly extending flanges, a strip positioned transversely of said channel member and forming with the walls of said channel a receptacle, a pair of wheel supporting members each having a wheel rotatably secured at one end, the other end portions of each of said wheel supporting members being free and shaped to fit between said channel walls and engaging said transverse strip, means for interlocking the free ends of said wheel supporting members comprising a plurality of pins adjacent to the free end of one of said members and a plurality of corresponding mating sockets adjacent the free end of the other said member, and means for detachably clamping said free wheel support ends within said receptacle to said backbone member, said wheel support members with their Wheels secured thereto extending rearwardly and downwardly from said backbone member, and cooperating with the bottom of said backbone member to support said backbone member and an attached golf bag in a substantially upright position.

3. A wheeled carrier for a golf bag, comprising a metal plate member extending substantially the length of the bag and fastened thereto, a pair of elongated wheel supports, each of said supports having a wheel rotatably secured to one end and having the other end free, each of said supports being adapted for insertion into the bag to be carried therein, an elongated handle member for pushing said carrier, said handle member having a free end, a clamping structure on an intermediate portion of said plate to receive the free ends of said supports and handle, said clamping structure comprising a pair of upstanding side flanges, said iree ends of said supmember.

6:2 =g'b1f carrier awarding tb claim- "3, means for --i-nterldck-i-ng the free ends of Said wheel supportsmofiiprising a longitudinal groove aiijacent the-free end ofone of 'said supports and -a corresponding tongue adjacent the 'f-re .end-Gfthe other saidsupport r ANTHONYSCHWARTZ;

REFERENCES CITED The following refefences are'of record name file "0f this patent:

UNTIED PATENTS V 

